Contract length

Q: As a first-year student how long should I expect the contract to be for?

A: For first-years signing up during the summer most owners will expect a contract to run either from the time of signing or from the start of the following month. At that time of year a lot of owners start their contracts from 1 September, but if you are considering renting through the summer, they may make rent concessions or retainers. Raise this with them – it’s always worth negotiating with an owner about the precise date you start paying rent. But, as ever, patterns vary from year to year and from place to place, so check for local details.

Q: As a returning student how long should I expect the contract to be for?

A: Many landlords will ask for a 12 month (52-week) let – commonly from 1 July to 30 June the following year. If you do opt for a 52-week let, try negotiating – before you sign – for a summer rent concession.

Others choose to delay signing up until the late summer (July, August, and September); again their contracts are likely to run to 30 June. However, some landlords still expect 12-month lets even when contracts are signed in the late-summer period. Do be aware that if you do delay most accommodation services get very busy at this time of year and finding accommodation then can be extremely stressful and time-consuming.

It's best that returning students look for house before the third week of August. If you are looking for a house as a group you must make a definite arrangement with each other to meet up in Egham before the end of summer because you will all need to agree on the property and be required to sign a contract. If you’re thinking of leaving it until late on in the summer, be aware that the better quality properties and the small supply of self-contained flats may be more limited in availability. There will, however, still be a good range of housing right through until the beginning of September. Remember, some owners will often be willing to negotiate with prospective tenants about when they should start paying rent from.